Nottinghamshire man took photo up woman’s skirt in shopping centre

A Nottinghamshire man has been banned from going out with a mobile phone after taking a photo up the skirt of a woman in a shopping centre.

Magistrates heard that James Jackson had images of other women on a phone when caught in the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre, Nottingham.

The phone ban bail condition was imposed on Jackson, 38, formerly of Watnall Road, Hucknall. He will be sentenced by Nottingham JPs in January after probation reports have been compiled.

Margaret Martin, prosecuting, said Jackson took a photo of a Taiwanese woman who had come to Nottingham to visit a friend in August and went shopping. She was “shocked” when told about the offence.

“The defendant moved close to a female looking at goods on a lower shelf.

“He bent down behind her and put the camera under her skirt and appeared to take photographs. They detained the defendant with the assistance of other security guards.

“He admitted he had a lot more images on his mobile phone. Police were called, the phone was seized. The footage was checked and they found 80 similar images on the phone,” said Mrs Martin.

When questioned by police, Jackson said he had “relationship trouble and had been taking photos for sexual gratification.” On the last occasion, taking the picture “was a spontaneous reaction to seeing the girl.”

Jackson admitted voyeurism by recording a person doing a private act so he could get sexual gratification. He also pleaded guilty to looking at images for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification between February 1 and August 6.

Rosemary Holland, mitigating, said reports were needed on Jackson before he was sentenced. Magistrates ordered him to co-operate with probation officers.

“There is clearly other information which should be before the court because of the complexity of the offence and the issues which underpin it,” added Miss Holland.

Presiding magistrate Len Miller told Jackson: “You have pleaded guilty to extremely serious matters and should be in no doubt that a bench must consider a custodial sentence.

“The probation service would need a period of time to produce a report which will be helpful to the bench. The report will be critical in terms of how you will be sentenced so you must co-operate,” the magistrate added.